THE DEVIL'S KITCHEN 79 



" I'm not afraid," said Miss Grimshaw, begin- 

 ning to waver, " and I don't want to spoil your 

 fun. How long would it take us to see the caves? " 



" Not more than an hour or two — less, maybe." 



" Weil," said the girl, suddenly making up her 

 mind, " I'll come." 



It was a momentous decision, with far-reaching 

 effects destined to touch all sorts of people and 

 things, from Mr French to Garryowen — a de- 

 cision which, in the ensuing April, might have 

 changed the course of racing events profoundly. 



So slender and magical are the threads of cause 

 that the fortunes of thousands of clerks with an 

 instinct for racing, thousands of sportsmen and 

 innumerable bookies, all were swept suddenly 

 that afternoon into the control of an event so 

 simple as a boating excursion on the west coast 

 of Ireland. 



She stepped into the boat and took her seat in 

 the stern ; Mr Giveen and Doolan pushed the httle 

 craft ofi, and just as she was water borne Mr 

 Giveen tumbled in over the bow, seized a scull 

 and poled her into deep water. 



The rocks made a tiny natural harbour, where 

 the dinghy floated with scarcely a movement, 

 whilst the oarsman got out both sculls. 



" Isn't he coming with us? " asked Miss Grim- 

 shaw. 



" Who? " 



" The old man — Doolan — what's his name? " 



" Sure, what would we be bothered taking him 



